Mandya: Protests against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu escalated on Wednesday when thousands of farmers attempted to lay siege to Krishna Raja Sagar and Kabini dams, demanding immediate closure of crest gates to stop the flow.

Defying prohibitory orders and breaking police cordon, the protesters rushed towards both dams from which the state is releasing 9,000 cusecs since Sunday, in compliance with a Supreme Court directive.

At KRS dam in Mandya district, some protesters jumped into the Cauvery river, resulting in injuries to two of them.

The situation in and around KRS dam posed concern as thousands of farmers poured in. Some police personnel and protesters were injured in stone pelting and the resultant baton charge. Police struggled to control the swelling crowd.

Road traffic between Mysore-Bangalore remained disrupted for the fifth consecutive day due to road blockade by farmers.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar urged farmers to maintain peace and said the state would file a review petition before the Supreme Court either on Wednesday or Thursday, praying for a review of Cauvery River Authority directive.

The Karnataka government began releasing water after the Supreme Court asked it to abide by the September 19 directive of the Cauvery River Authority, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh till October 15.